Blog | Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization | Caching the Capital Region and Beyond

Spotlight Cache: The Loaner

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Awesnap

#National Name Your Car Day (October 2, 2024) Going down the list of fun/bizarre holidays you will find that October 2, 2024 is National Name Your Car Day! There are plenty of famous cars out there like Herbie, Christine, Eleanor, and the General Lee. Studies have shown that when people name inanimate objects like cars, they assign almost human-like attributes to it, and feel more in control. There are a few car related geocaches in NoVAGO territory (Just ask Joey-Jo), but one stands out as having a name assigned to it in the cache title. That car is The Loaner (GC493RZ). Placed in 2013 by mobywv, it is a letterbox where you follow a map through the woods to a 1976 Mercury Bobcat Villager. I am sure that there is good story behind a very old wrecked car that is rusting away in the forest, and that every geocacher who … Continue reading →

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Volunteers Needed for Fall Picnic

Volunteers Needed for Fall Picnic We need someone to help set up and heat up the grill at the start of our fall picnic. We also need someone to cook hot dogs and hamburgers. Additionally, we need help with clean up at the end of the picnic. Typically these duties fall on the shoulders of board members and/or directors. Helping out is a great way to show your support for your local geocaching community. Volunteering will help you meet people and make new friends and is the fastest way to be the cool kid in the group. If you think you can help for part or all of the picnic, e-mail officers@novago.org. Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization is hosting its annual fall picnic and silent auction fundraiser on Sunday, October 20th, 11am-2pm at Locust Shade Park in Triangle, VA. For event page, visit NoVAGO Fall Picnic (GCAXQTF)

Geocaching 101 Class in Winchester, September 28, 2024

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Heather

Want to learn more about geocaching? Join NoVAGO at the Handley Regional Library in Winchester on Saturday, September 28, 2024. There will be a “Geocaching 101” presentation at 12 noon hosted by NoVAGO’s president, Gina Thompson. There will be a scavenger hunt inside the library to get you in the mood. Local geocachers will be on hand from 11am-3pm to answer questions. All geocachers are invited to attend the event, whether this is your first “find” or you have thousands under your belt. We look forward to meeting you! Visit the Handley Regional Library website for more info. … Continue reading →

2024 Series, NOVACON, kicks off!

Posted on August 25, 2024 by Heather

On August 24th, 2024, NoVAGO kicked off its annual series at two well attended events. This year’s theme is convention fun, hence the name, NOVACON. After a teaser at the spring picnic, contestants picked up badges and found out what team they were randomly assigned to. Players had the opportunity to earn their first points in the game by attending in costume, bringing along a home-made prop, or by showing off their themed tats (fake or real.) The official 2024 NOVACON coin was debuted during the two events and were made available for sale. Purchase of the coins supports expenses of running the series. If you missed out on the chance, they will be at future NOVACON events. They are selling for $12 each and you may reserve one by sending a VENMO and getting in touch with the coordinators (contact below,) OR bring cash to the next official event. … Continue reading →

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Save the Date! NoVAGO Fall Picnic

A picnic shelter has been reserved for NoVAGO at Locust Grove in Triangle for Sunday, October 20th. Additional details will be announced as the event gets closer. Please consider supporting our annual auction at this year’s event. The auction is our largest fundraiser of the year.

Geocaching HQ’s Announces Cosmic Quest Souvenir Challenge

Posted on July 20, 2024 by Heather

Geocaching HQ’s Announces Cosmic Quest Souvenir Challenge July 22 through September 1 Geocaching HQ starts it’s Cosmic Quest. July 22 – September 1, the entire geocaching community will be working together to earn a special souvenir. In addition to the community souvenir, players will get the chance to win two other souvenir on their own. Earn points by finding geocaches and Adventures, attending Events, receiving Favorite points on their owned geocaches, and activating trackables. More info at https://www.geocaching.com/ … Continue reading →

Spotlight Cache: NoVAGO U: Geology 101

Posted on July 13, 2024 by Heather

#NationalRockDay (July 13) Today we’re celebrating #NationalRockDay by spotlighting a wherigo cache from the 2022 NoVAGO annual series. Placed by kiisikwa, NoVAGO U: Geology 101 will take you on an adventure through different rock samples. You will be challenged on your knowledge before you can get the coordinates to where the cache is hidden. “I learned something at each of the stages. Thanks Dr for the lesson and placing this cache!” ~923Graham “This class rocks!” ~02Hooson “This was a unique wherigo experience. The lesson was enjoyable, and the geology examples where top notch.” ~Awesnap “This was a very enjoyable Wherigo! I not only learned something, but I admired how it was set up. I had never done a Wherigo where I had to find cache at each stage.” ~Team_Palazzo If you were making a geocache cocktail and threw in a little bit of multi-stage cache, a little earthcache, and a … Continue reading →

Geocaching 101, Alexandria, June 17th

Posted on June 3, 2024 by Heather

Geocaching 101, Alexandria, June 17th If you are just getting started with geocaching and want to learn more, please join us at the Martha Washington Library two weeks from today on June 17th. This Geocaching 101 class is perfect for beginners but open for all. It is also a geocache event, so you may log it as ‘attended’ when you come. The library’s page: https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/11900028 The geocache event page: https://coord.info/GCAR0C7 … Continue reading →

2024 Spring Picnic Recap

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Heather

NoVAGO Celebrates ‘Best of 2023’ with Spring Picnic NoVAGO announced winners of 2023 geocaching awards in Berryville, May 19, 2024 Members of the Northern Virginia Geocaching Organization gathered on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 at Chet Hobert Park in Berryville. As is our tradition, we announced winners of our geocaching awards, handed out some prizes, enjoyed a pot luck meal, did a little geocaching, and enjoyed the geocaching community we share. NoVAGO 2024 Spring Picnic and Awards Event. Any apprehensions that the late season date would lead to uncomfortable heat, were completely unfounded. In fact, the early reports of rain gave way to a warning of morning sprinkles that never materialized. Pop-up tents had been brought along for good measure, but remained untouched in our cars. The day started cloudy and mild, but warmed up with the sun just in time for some geocaching. Chet Hobert Park was a perfect host. … Continue reading →

NOVAGO’s 2023 Geocache Award Winners

Posted on May 19, 2024 by Heather

Winners of NOVAGO’s 2023 Geocache Awards Thanks to all those who took the time to send in nominations and also to those who voted. MrPsyduck and Schwandt graciously formed an awards committee and together did the bulk of the work to get the nominations narrowed down and run a ballot. Thank you fellas! One of our talented members, HyperactiveGirl, whipped up some extra gifts for our winner to go along with the traditional trackable tags. We gathered in Chet Hobert Park in Berryville on May 19th, 2024 to find out who would bring home the prizes as well as get to display the special winner’s SWAG on their cache pages. Drum roll, please . . . . And the winners are Best Traditional Cache NoVAGO Moviepalooza:The Sound of Music (GCAEQB7) by rlobecker Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache NoVAGO Moviepalooza: Nat’l Treasure:Book of Secrets (GCAEPVZ) by sedor18 Best Multi-Cache NoVAGO Moviepalooza: Godzilla (1954) (GCAEKH8) … Continue reading →